Anton Brunold – Apprentice M & D Engineer

After completing his secondary schooling at St Peter's College Anton successfully applied to undertake the engineering pre apprenticeship course at the Southern Institute of Technology. At the completion of the course in late 2005 he was offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training and has been placed with New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd.

To complete the Level 4 National Certificate in Maintenance & Diagnostics Engineering Anton must complete a range of unit standards comprising both theory and practical elements. Anton's off job theory training will be provided by S.I.T through his attendance at weekly evening classes and a three week block course each year.

An apprenticeship offers the opportunity to gain a tertiary qualification at Level 4 without needing to take on a student debt. Apprentices are paid as they learn. Southern Group Training, as employer, pays for Anton's Training Manual, his annual industry training fees, his evening class and block course fees, and pays him while he is attending his annual three week block course. Travel and accommodation costs for block courses held outside of Invercargill are also covered.

Ben Stephen – Apprentice Light Fabrication Engineer

After leaving St Peters College Ben applied for an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training which placed him with Gore Sheetmetal for his on job practical training.

The theory elements of Ben's qualification are taught through weekly evening classes at the Southern Institute of Technology.

Regular attendance is necessary if apprentices are to complete their qualification in the best timeframe.

Once Ben has completed the theory assessment for a unit standard he is then able to be assessed in the practical elements, provided that he is able to prove that he is competent in the various tasks.

To achieve practical competency he has to be able to complete the required practical tasks consistently well, unsupervised, in a commercial timeframe, using safe work practices.

This level of competency is gained through practical work experience on job and through a series of block courses. Ben's Training Manager is a qualified workplace assessor and is able to undertake regular workplace assessment of his work.

Bryce McVicar – Electrical Engineer

Having completed his secondary schooling at St Peter's College Bryce successfully applied to, and completed, the electrical pre apprenticeship course at the Southern Institute of Technology. In late 2002 Bryce was offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training and placed with Rayonier MDF where he had been placed for his day per week work experience.

To complete the Level 4 National Certificate in Electrical Engineering Bryce had to complete a range of unit standards comprising both theory and practical elements. Bryce's off job theory training has been provided by S.I.T through his attendance at evening class and a two week block course each year.

While Rayonier's were Bryce's primary host company, during the course of his apprenticeship Southern Group Training has placed Bryce with several secondary host companies to enable him to complete the full range of domestic and commercial electrical unit standards required to complete his Level 4 National Certificate.

The diversity of practical work and steady progress through his theory work has provided Bryce with a good foundation of knowledge, skills and experience to build upon as he enters the workforce as a fully qualified electrician.

George Horrell – Light Fabrication Engineer

A former student of Tuatapere Community College, George enrolled in the July 2007 ACE Engineering programme which was held over 20, instead of the usual 38, weeks at the Southern Institute of Technology.

The condensed pre apprenticeship course allowed George to complete all the requirements of the course in a shorter period of time, thus allowing him to begin his apprenticeship earlier than previously would have been the case.

Having successfully completed all the requirements of the programme George was offered an apprenticeship with Sheet Metalcraft where he will complete the remaining Level 3 and Level 4 practical unit standards. Additional practical experience is provided through annual three week block courses held at the Southern Institute of Technology.

The theory units are taught through off job training via weekly evening classes at the Southern Institute of Technology and require regular attendance if the apprentice is to make good steady progress towards the completion of his apprenticeship and Level 4 National Certificate.

Glenn Erskine – Heavy Fabrication Engineer

After completing his secondary schooling at St Peter's College Glenn successfully applied to undertake the engineering pre apprenticeship course at the Southern Institute of Technology in 2005.

During the course Glenn spent a day each week on work experience with Geo Wilson & Sons Engineering and was subsequently offered, mid way through the course, an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training on placement with Geo Wilson & Sons Engineering. This early offer of an apprenticeship was in acknowledgement of Glenn's good work ethic and application to both the theory and practical tasks involved.

To complete the Level 4 National Certificate in Heavy Fabrication Engineering Glenn must complete a range of unit standards comprising both theory and practical elements. Glenn's off job theory training is being provided by S.I.T through his attendance at weekly evening class and through a three week block course each year. course each year.

Jacob van de Water – Apprentice Heavy Fab

Jacob attended St Peters College for three years before securing work at Scott Sheetmetal as an engineering labourer. Jacob spent several months in the workforce during which time the company was able to ascertain his suitability to be considered for an apprenticeship, and he was able to make a more informed decision as to whether a career in engineering was for him.

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Jacob was offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training and seconded to Scott Sheetmetal. The practical elements of his qualification are taught on the job and through annual three weekly block courses at the Southern Institute of Technology.

The theory elements are taught through weekly evening classes. Once Jacob has completed the theory assessment for a unit standard he is then able to be assessed in the practical elements, providing that he is able to prove that he is competent in the various tasks.

To achieve practical competency Jacob must be able to complete the required practical tasks consistently well, unsupervised, in a commercial timeframe, using safe work practices. This level of competency is gained through practical work experience on job and through a series of block courses.

Shane Mulqueen – Heavy Automotive Engineer

After completing his secondary schooling at St Peter's College Shane successfully applied to undertake the automotive pre apprenticeship course at the Southern Institute of Technology. At the completion of the course in late 2002 Shane was offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training and was placed on secondment with New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd.

During the pre apprenticeship course students cover various health and safety requirements including first aid, safe use of hand tools and safe use of power tools all of which enables them to be safer in the workplace. They are also trained in the Level 2 unit standard requirements of their apprenticeship qualification which enables the student to be more useful in the workplace from the very beginning of their apprenticeship.

Employers prefer to employ people with a good understanding of the health and safety issues in the workplace and who are able to be useful from day one. The pre apprenticeship course also allows the student to demonstrate a good work ethic and an understanding of the need to be able to develop and maintain good timekeeping skills.

Simon Pope – Apprentice Heavy Fabrication Engineer

After completing his secondary schooling at St Peter's College Simon successfully applied to undertake the engineering pre apprenticeship course at the Southern Institute of Technology. At the completion of his course in late 2004 Simon was offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training and has been placed with E Type Engineering as his host company.

To complete the Level 4 National Certificate in Heavy Fabrication Engineering Simon must complete a range of unit standards comprising both theory and practical elements. Simon's off job theory training has been provided by S.I.T through his attendance at weekly evening classes and through a three week block course each year.

Once Simon has completed the theory assessment for each unit standard he is then able to be assessed in the practical elements. To achieve practical competency Simon has to be able to complete the required practical tasks consistently well, unsupervised, in a commercial timeframe, using safe work practices.

Simon's Training Manager is a qualified workplace assessor and is able to undertake regular workplace assessments of Simon's work. It is the apprentice's responsibility to be well prepared for the assessment of each unit standard.